San Jose police kill man accused of slaying ex-girlfriend's parents

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SAN JOSE (KTVU) -- The ex-boyfriend who broke up with a woman last year allegedly killed her parents in their South Bay home before police shot and killed him after he pointed a gun at responding officers, investigators said Thursday.

San Jose police Chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference that the woman had taken out a restraining order against the 24-year-old man last year but he showed up Wednesday night at the residence of the woman, who was not at the home in the 1000 block of Laura Ville Lane when the suspect arrived.

"It was just a horrible, horrible crime," Garcia said. "A tragic incident perpetrated by evil."

Police have not yet publicly identified the victims or the assailant.

Authorities received a call just after 9 p.m. Wednesday from the victims' 20-year-old son about a shooting at the home in the Willow Glen neighborhood, which is located west of Highway 87. The couple's son told police that his mother, father and 13-year-old brother were in the residence.

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The department's Mobile Emergency Response Group and Equipment unit responded to the house. As the MERGE officers set up containment and arrest teams, the suspect released the 13-year-old boy, who was unharmed, Garcia said.

The department's tactical negotiations unit arrived and talked with the suspect, trying to convince him to surrender.

The responding officers saw an adult male in the doorway who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Although the teen was able to escape unharmed police said the 24-year-old fatally shot his mother.

Garcia said the suspect refused to surrender and pointed a gun at arriving officers, who fired one round at the man, killing him.'

The MERGE officer who fired the fatal shot has 17 years of experience, police said. The officer has been placed on routine administrative leave, Garcia said.

Also, Garcia said the couple's daughter had dated the suspect but had ended the relationship last year.

"The relationship had something to do with it but we don't know what it is," Garcia said, adding that the woman was not harmed and was not home when the incident occurred. Another daughter who does not live in the area is not traveling home, police said.

Garcia said the man had been in trouble with police before, with police run-ins that included driving under the influence, domestic violence and mental illness.

A neighbor who has lived in the area for eight years said he had never seen anything like this before.

"It's just shocking," said Richard Ruiz. "I don't want to hear anyone taking each other's life."

Police said the Santa Clara County District attorney's office and the San Jose Police Department's homicide unit are conducting a joint criminal investigation.

Authorities also say this case is being monitored by the police department's internal affairs unit, the City Attorney's Office, and the Office of the Independent Auditor.

This incident follows another officer-involved shooting in San Jose Tuesday night.

KTVU reporter Jesse Gary and Bay City News contributed to this report.